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Dirt Town

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What to expect

*Winner of the CWA New Blood Dagger 2023*

'A heart-wrenching mystery' – Jane Harper, author of The Dry

Twelve year-old Esther Bianchi disappears on her way home from school in the small town of Durton – and the truth will not come easily. Dirt Town by Hayley Scrivenor is an atmospheric crime novel set in rural Australia.

Dirt town. Dirt and hurt – that’s what others would remember about our town . . .

The Detective

As the community is thrown into a state of grief and suspicion, Detective Sergeant Sarah Michaels begins her investigation into the disappearance of Esther Bianchi. She questions those who knew the girl, attempting to unpick the secrets which bind them together.

The Mother

The girl’s mother believes that her daughter going missing is the worst thing that can happen to her. But as the search for Esther develops, she learns that things can always get worse.

The Friends

Ronnie is Esther’s best friend and is determined to bring her home. So when her classmate Lewis tells her that he saw Esther with a strange man at the creek the afternoon she went missing, Ronnie feels she is one step closer to finding her. But why is Lewis refusing to speak to the police?

And who else is keeping quiet about what happened to Esther?

'I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough' - Chris Whitaker, bestselling author of We Begin at the End

'A stunning debut' - Ann Cleeves

Critics Review

  • A heart-wrenching mystery, Hayley Scrivenor’s remarkable sense of place brings Dirt Town to life. A stellar debut

    Jane Harper, bestselling author of The Dry

  • A stunning debut. Achingly atmospheric, thrilling and heartfelt, I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough

    Chris Whitaker, internationally bestselling author of We Begin at the End

  • Beautifully written, compassionate, with an entirely credible but heart-breaking ending. A stunning debut

    Ann Cleeves, The Sunday Times bestselling author

  • Dirt Town deserves its praise. It is an intelligent novel, one that grapples with complex social and political dynamics, and brings a fresh voice to familiar narratives

    Guardian

  • [A] deeply impressive first novel . . . It is a powerful story, shot through with moments of horror and tenderness, and another devastating indictment of the outback mentality

    The Times

  • Best crime debut in ages, Hayley Scrivenor is a major new talent. Page-turning, heart-breaking, gut-wrenching stuff. I can’t remember when I enjoyed a book so much

    Erin Kelly, The Sunday Times bestselling author of He Said/She Said

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